The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.
Tami Chappell | Reuters
There have been more than 1,200 cases of a rare heart inflammation condition in people who received Pfizer‘s or Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine, according to a CDC presentation slide published Wednesday ahead of an advisory meeting.
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is holding a meeting to discuss rare, but higher-than-expected, reports of myocarditis or pericarditis in 16- to-24-year-olds after receiving the mRNA vaccines. Myocarditis is the inflammation of the heart muscle, while pericarditis is the inflammation of the membrane surrounding the heart.
The agency said there have been 267 cases of myocarditis or pericarditis reported after receiving one dose of the mRNA vaccines and 827 reported cases after two doses through June 11. There are 132 additional cases where the number of doses received is unknown, the CDC said.
Roughly 300 million of the shots had been administered as of June 11, the CDC said.
Men under 30 make up the bulk of the cases, the CDC said, and most cases appear to be mild. Of the 295 people who have developed the condition and have been discharged, 79% of them have fully recovered, according to the presentation. Nine people were hospitalized, with two in intensive care as of June 11, according to the CDC.
Federal officials still don’t know whether the condition is being caused by the vaccines.
The CDC’s vaccine safety group said Wednesday data available to date suggests there’s likely association of myocarditis with mRNA vaccination in adolescents and young adults.
The CDC is coordinating its investigation with the Food and Drug Administration, which last month authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for adolescents ages 12 to 15. Symptoms, which include chest pain and shortness of breath, typically develop within a few days of receiving the shot, the agency has said.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
